Guintoli quits World Superbikes in favour of BSB return

Former World Superbike champion Sylvain Guintoli will not return to the series next season, instead choosing to return to the British championship with Hawk Suzuki.

Guintoli, whose 2016 season has been plagued by injury, was left without a ride when his Pata Yamaha squad announced earlier in the year it was signing Michael van der Mark alongside Alex Lowes for 2017.

The Frenchman has since been linked with a return to BSB, where he competed in 2009, also with Suzuki, after the end of his tenure in MotoGP - before he progressed to the world championship in 2010.

He will compete with the all-new Hawk Suzuki team next year under the 'Bennetts Suzuki' banner, the insurance firm having backed the Halsall squad for the 2016 campaign.

“I’m really happy to be back in British Superbikes," said Guintoli, who finished 11th in the standings this season, one place ahead of Lowes, despite missing five rounds because of injury.

"Even though it was short, I enjoyed my time in the series in 2009 with Suzuki. I had a really good start to the season on the GSX-R1000, with a win and three more podiums in four races, and I feel like I have unfinished business after that year.

“I’m now looking forward to working with Hawk and the Bennetts Suzuki team for 2017 and getting my first taste of the new GSX-R1000, and I’m sure we can fight at the front from the start.”

Guintoli joins another World Superbike refugee, former Ducati rider Davide Giugliano, in switching to the British series for 2017, the Italian signing with Tyco BMW.